Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak detected in Finland in spring is over

In spring 2026, a disease cluster caused by the bacterium Salmonella Bovismorbificans was detected in Finland. The cluster included a total of 64 cases, who are suspected to have been infected domestically. Of these cases, 37 have been confirmed to be caused by the same bacterial strain. Most cases were detected between March and May. In addition, a single case was detected in June. Based on currently available information, the outbreak is over.

Cases were detected in different parts of Finland. Those who fell ill were aged 4–86 years (average age 43), and 41 of them were women. Ten were hospitalized. Two of the people with detected infection died within 30 days of the infection being detected. The deaths may have been caused by the individuals' other illnesses, as deaths are recorded as related to the cluster based on the date of death.

A large proportion of the interviewed cases reported having eaten uncooked sprouts before falling ill. THL (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare) and the Finnish Food Authority investigated the outbreak in cooperation with the health care and environmental health authorities of the wellbeing services counties and municipalities. Salmonella cases caused by the same bacterial strain have also been detected in other European countries this year. More information is available in the bulletins issued by the Finnish Food Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Salmonella infections in Finland

Salmonella is usually spread through food contaminated with the faeces of a person or animal carrying the bacterium. Heating food destroys salmonella. Salmonella can also spread from person to person if hand hygiene is inadequate.

The most common symptoms of salmonella infection are diarrhoea and fever. Diarrhoea symptoms last 4–10 days.

The number of salmonella cases has decreased significantly in Finland over the past 10 years. In 2023–2025, approximately 700–800 salmonella cases were reported annually to the National Infectious Diseases Register. So far this year, a normal number of salmonella cases has been reported, approximately 380 cases.

More information

Finnish Food Authority's bulletin (in Finnish)

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) bulletin

Saara Salmenlinna
Team Manager
tel. +358 29 524 7944
[email protected]

Mikaela Mutru
Communicable Disease Control Physician
tel.+358 524 8557
[email protected]